From the pages of the Down Recorder, September 28, 1976

From the pages of the Down Recorder, September 28, 1976

28 September 2016

BANGOR — ‘Rollermania’ hit Bangor on Tuesday night when several thousand screaming teenage girls invaded the Tonic cinema top see their idols playing live.

One of the causes of their hysteria was Downpatrick boy Ian Mitchell – the new ‘Roller’ — playing with the group in Northern Ireland for the first time since he joined them in April this year.

Ian spent the few days before the concert at home with his mother in Ardmeen Green, one of the few chances he has had to see her since April.

And he enjoyed every minute of it. “It was great to be home for a few days. I do miss Downpatrick sometimes as I liked it a lot.”

Ian was late arriving in Bangor from home as his car got lost en route. When he did arrive he was hidden in the boot of a car which was ostensibly there to deliver ice-cream. The show started three quarters of an hour late owing to a technical hitch.

Ian said he was always nervous before going on stage, but added that he enjoyed the excitement once he got out. “The reception was unbelievable — better than anything I’ve experienced before.”

Among the fans on Tuesday night were Ian’s mother and father, Mary and Alan, who were sitting in the front row of the balcony. Mrs Mitchell loved what she saw but said she wasn’t quite sure what she heard.

“My husband and I find the noise just a wee bit too loud, but I’m all right. The girl from the St John Ambulance team gave me two bits of cotton wool, which I’m using as ear plugs.”

CASTLEWELLAN — The Ulster Weaving Company, with factories in Castlewellan and Killyleagh, is taking a pounding from the Bank of England over one of its towels. The Bank is angry because the company is cashing in on the business of designing pound notes.

The only thing is that the firm’s patterns end up on tea towels and the management can’t see anyone passing them over the counter for groceries.

For the Bank it is a point of principle. They say the towels contravene forgery and copyright laws. A spokesman said that if the company refused to halt production legal advice might be sought..

Ulster Weaving are refusing to take note. The towels - with a £1 or £5 pattern and retailing at 85p — are still on the market.

DOWNPATRICK — Industrial action may be adopted at Downshire Hospital next week unless Confederation of Health Service Employees become more cheerful about the likely outcome of their claims.

A week ago COHSE made claims about mismanagement, staffing shortages and the destruction of the hospital’s status, authority and power.

Yesterday Mr Owen Adams, chairman of the District Health and Social Services Committee, said that although they had taken cognisance of what COHSE had claimed, they had already set up a committee to investigate staffing of Downshire Hospital wards.

A provisional action committee has been formed by Downshire Hospital staff and they will hold a public meeting next Thursday night.

A statement issued yesterday said the committee had the total support of all grades of nursing and ancillary staff within the hospital. It added: This dramatic step has been taken in view of the deteriorating situation within the hospital.”

SAINTFIELD — Saintfield petty sessions will be abolished from the end of October under new statutory rules relating to magistrate’s courts in Northern Ireland.

The townlands forming the district of Saintfield will be added to either Downpatrick, Ballynhainch, Hillsborough, Newtownards or Newtownbreda districts. With the increased burdens, Downpatrick, Ballynahinch and Newtownards courts will have extra sittings.

From November 1, when the order comes into effect, Downpatrick will sit every Thursday and Ballynahinch will sit twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesdays, while Newtownards will sit every Tuesday.

CARRYDUFF — Selfish motorists are speeding through Carryduff and causing lollipop lady Millicent Irvine a major headache.

Mrs Irvine, who is on patrol duty at the busy junction of Church Road and Ballynahinch Road, believes that large warning signs to thoughtless motorists could save lives.

She is on duty twice daily seeing children safely from Carryduff Primary School. She was almost struck by a car last week because motorists on the inside lanes sometimes are not aware that there is a patrol crossing.

She said: “I would like to see traffic slow down and signs to remind motorists that there is a school crossing here might be helpful.”

BALLYNAHINCH — The boss of the South Eastern Education Board’s Youth Service has denied that he boobed by slapping a temporary closure notice on a Ballynahinch Youth Club. His action led to the resignation of the club’s warden at the end of last week.

Almost 100 teenagers were turned away from Ballynahinch Informal Youth Club on Thursday night, but the closure order was revoked 24 hours later.

Club members say the warden’s resignation brought matters to a head and forced the reversal of the decision which, they claim, was taken after a complaint made by a tutor at the Board’s Music Centre, which shares facilities with the club at Ballynahinch Secondary School.

SAUL — A County Down priest from Saul has just won a top award in the American film world. Father Charles Coulter produced a film which won the Silver Screen award at the US Industrial Film Festival in Chicago.

Fr Coulter made the film, Children of the Mountains, during a 1975 expedition to Columban Missions in the Philippines. He is a Columban father, having joined the missionary society in 1948. The film is available for free viewing in Ireland.

KILLOUGH — The old Killough brickworks has been taken over again — for the second time in under a year — as part of a £4 million expansion programme by the Tyrone Brick Co Ltd, of Dungannon.

It is hoped to start production in January next year of a recently developed insulation block called Poroton. A spokeswoman for the company said that when full production gets into swing they will be producing in the region of 100,000 blocks a week.

CROSSGAR — The new soccer pitch at Crossgar was officially opened on Saturday and it quickly got its baptism when three matches took place.

Vistings teams from Drumaness, Killyleagh and Purdysburn took part, competing against Crossgar’s U-10, U-14 and senior squads.

The U-10 team were crushed 7-0 by Drumaness Mills, but the U-14 team had a much better result, defeating a Killyleagh combination 6-2. Scorers for Crossgar were Sean Bell (2), Daniel Bell (2), Paul McGreevy and David Huston.

The senior team, Crossgar United, also won, defeating Purdysburn 3-2 with goals from Tommy Ritchie, David Hill and substitute E Casement.

KILKEEL — Members of Kilkeel Chamber of Commerce have complained about an increasing number of street traders who now operate illegally in the town on fair days.

The chamber has been told that an enforcement officer will soon be checking on the number of traders  and a report will be presented to the local council.

ANNALONG — David Nicholson, the Annalong striker who has scored nine goals in his last two outings, is already striding out in front in the Down Recorder’s top goalscoring trophy. Altogether, Nicholson has netted 14 goals in five games.

WATER — The Silent Valley and Ben Crom reservoirs, which supply County Down, are standing at only 23 per cent of their capacity. This represents only 40 days’ supply and consumers should still save as much water as they can.